Manny Pérez

Manuel Pérez "Manny" Batista (born May 5, 1969) is a Dominican American actor who has appeared in the television series Third Watch and in the film Washington Heights. He is the cousin of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Díaz.

Life and career Pérez was born in Baitoa, Santiago, Dominican Republic and currently lives in Washington Heights, Manhattan.

Pérez is one of 11 siblings. By the time Pérez finished high school he knew that he wanted to be an actor so he moved to New York City where he majored in drama at Marymount Manhattan College, graduating in 1992.

He studied at Ensemble Studio Theatre and is a member of the LAByrinth Theatre Company, in New York City.

Following his performance on the film Washington Heights (which he also co-wrote and produced), Pérez garnered praise from many critics.

The New York Times stated, "Mr. Perez has charisma to burn." He won the 2002 Best Actor Award at The Milan International Film Festival in Italy for his performance in Washington Heights.

At the Santo Domingo Invita show, he was honored as one of the most prominent Dominican actors in the United States.

In November 2007, Pérez was honored in the Dominican Film Festival held in Puerto Plata along with Dania Ramirez for his humanitarian work in the Dominican Republic. When Pérez received the award, he said that his first pair of shoes were given to him at the age of five by his father and that he only wore them to go to Mass on Sundays. Pérez also said that when he first came to the United States, he gained a great deal of weight from what was later discovered to be hookworms in his stomach, which had first infected his feet after he walked the streets barefoot. Pérez donated 10,000 shoes to families who lost everything after Hurricane Noel swept across the Dominican Republic.

In 2012 he was elected by Luz García's Noche de Luz programme as a "Summer's Hot Body".

Filmography Source:

Film + Film work by Manny Pérez Year Title Role Notes 1993 New York Cop Tito 1994 Crooklyn Hector 1996 Courage Under Fire Jenkins Bullet Flaco Sleeping Together Carlos 1997 Stick Up Eddie Short film 1998 Neto's Run Neto 1999 On the Q.T. Aurelio 2000 Brother Mexican Mafia Hitman Dinner Rush Gabriel 2002 Washington Heights Carlos Story writer King Rikki Jorge Ortega 2003 Party Monster Johnny 2004 Carlos 2006 Yellow Angelo El Cantante 2007 Detective Manso Rockaway Antwan Illegal Tender Wilson DeLeon Sr. Tracks of Color George Martinez Amexicano Diego Where God Left His Shoes Luis 2008 Nothing like the Holidays Alexis Last Call Javier Pride and Glory Coco Dominguez 2009 La soga Luisito Story writer Tony 2010 Forged Chuco Also writer 2012 El Rey de Najayo Julián López 2013 Crosstown Jesus 2017 Colao Antonio 2018 Veneno Jack Veneno 2021 Night of the Sicario Leon Ramirez 2024 Tiguere Alberto Sam Post-production

Television + Television work by Manny Pérez Year Title Role Notes 1994-1996 New York Undercover Tony 2 episodes 1995 NYPD Blue Tonio Episode: "Cold Heaters" 1998 Brooklyn South Estefan Episode: "Violet Inviolate" 1999 Rude Awakening Jesus 2 episodes 2001-2002 100 Centre Street Ramon Rodriguez 18 episodes 2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Jorge Galvez Episode: "The Pilgrim" 2002-2021 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Sergeant Hagen / Angel Perez/ DEA Agent / CSU Technician 4 episodes 2004 Dragnet Sergio Episode: "Riddance" CSI: Miami Manny Orantes Episode: "Crime Wave" 2005 Night Stalker Tattoo Man / Caleca Episode: "The Source" Third Watch Manny Santiago 10 episodes 2006-2007 Rescue Me Detective Luis 5 episodes 2008 Canterbury's Law Hector Monteiros Episode: "Sick as Your Secrets" 2010 Criminal Minds Manny Episode: "Corazon" Cold Case Tut' 10 Episode: "Bombers" 2013 Homeland El Niño 2 episodes 2016 Johan Halbeck Episode: "Miles McGrath (No. 65)" Luke Cage Lieutenant Pérez 3 episodes 2019 Bull Trent Bolton Episode: "Bounty" 2020 Big Dogs Santiago 8 episodes